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Green Ways to Keep your Baby Clean

How to keep your baby’s skin clean and safe from irritants and harsh chemicals.

by: Nancy Ripton

f you're thinking of going green, your baby's body wash is one of the first places you should start. "Infant's and children's immune systems are less-developed than an adult's, making them more vulnerable to pesticides and chemicals," says Eden Somberg, clinical herbalist and sales manager for Erbaorganics.

To keep baby's skin soft and healthy, look for gentle, non-drying cleansers derived from olive oil and oats, organic ingredients and essential oils. Products should be free of artificial fragrances, food-grade preservatives and harsh detergent ingredients. "Be especially wary of sodium lauryl sulfate," says Marlene Beadling, US product education manager for Jurlique. "It's an ingredient used as a foaming agent in many cleansers that has been shown to be irritating to skin."

For a detailed list of ingredients to avoid in your child's bath and body products log onto Prevent Cancer by Dr. Samuel Epstein, author of The Safe Shopper's Bible.

And to help make shopping for baby bath products a little easier, I've listed five of my favorites:

Erbaorganics Baby Body Wash

Perfect for parents who are looking for an organic wash that still creates a lather.

Essential lavender and chamomile oils soothe sensitive skin and can also be calming to cranky babies.

Bonus: Erbaorganics donates 15 percent of their baby wash sales to the World Wide Orphans Foundation.